Seawolf,
I'm a reservationist with UA. Permitted open jaws are determined by the unflown segment. We look at the fare of that unflown segment and it must be equal to or less than the two segments you want to fly. If so the other segments are allowed.
An example of an open-jaw that would not be permitted is if a person wanted to fly from BOS to PHL then DEN back to BOS. The "unflown" segment PHL to DEN is a higher fare than the other segments - therefore cannot be done. Hope this was clear.
The unflown segment (PWM

Pulled the following from expedia.com
HJWAP (JFK-HKG)

A portion of it reads:

SURCHARGES - ANY AQ FLIGHT /ANY UA FLIGHT / ANY HA FLIGHT
25.00 USD SIDE TRIP
FROM HONG KONG SAR 20 HKD MISC/OTHER

What does this mean? $25 for a side trip form HKG on any AQ, UA, or HA flight?

What about this portion?
MPM - PA 9817 VIA PACIFIC

And finally, how do you read the routing? Do that mean I can route JFK-LAX-HNL-NRT-HKG?

INDUSTRY FARE TYPE - XPB - SUPER/SPECIAL INSTANT PURCHASE
PFCS MAY VARY BY RTG
ROUTING 469 FROM NYC-UA-CHI-UA-DEN-
VIA UA-LAX-UA-SFO-UA-SEA-
OR VIA UA-SFO-UA-LAX-
OR VIA UA-SEA-
TO UA-HNL-UA-OSA-UA-TYO-UA-HKG*

Thanks.

Yes, acceptable routings to Japan on UA and NW include routing through Hawaii (even on NW frequent flier tickets). MPM is Maximum Permitted Mileage, which is something like 20% over the great circle mileage, and is calculated segment by segment--obviously JFK LAX HNL NRT is more miles than JFKNRT, but if it falls w/in the MPM, you are allowed. Another example that might be possible would be a JFK-SEL-NRT routing (on KE or OZ)--again you overfly NRT, but you have the MPM to get in the flights (probably could even squeeze in a stop in someplace like Pusan, to take it to the extreme).

(correct me if I am wrong)

Other terms I think may come in handy when it comes to priority in standing by,

In Transit -- Refers to a passenger making a connection where both coupons came out of the same ticket book.

Local Boarding -- Refers to a passenger beginning his trip (includes beginning his return trip) or resuming travel after a stopover. Includes passengers making a connection when the connecting flight is part of a separately booked journey.

Inbound -- May describe the first flight when talking about one flight connecting with another.

If you check in timely and are about to be denied a seat such as when standing by or being bumped (or if the agent is not busy) the agent or a supervisor or manager must show you the boarding priorities in writing on request.

More and esoteric travel tips: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/travel.htm


[This message has been edited by AllanJ (edited 01-04-2000).]